Bleecker Street has moved the US theatrical release of Musk forward from October 16 to October 9, 2026. The film will initially open in New York and Los Angeles, with a wider expansion to follow.

The shift comes immediately after the documentary's world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, shortening the gap between its festival exposure and commercial release.

This is not a short portrait

Alex Gibney's theatrical cut runs 225 minutes, or three hours and 45 minutes, with screenings also accommodating a 10-minute intermission. Gibney has said the project originally began as a shorter film before events surrounding Musk's political role and growing influence dramatically expanded its scope.

The documentary traces Musk's rise through his business career and examines the power attached to companies including Tesla, SpaceX and X, as well as his increasing involvement in American politics.

Gibney began working on the project in 2023. Musk declined a request to be interviewed for it.

Its subject is already fighting back

The filmmakers instead use archival material, public statements and a digital avatar of Musk alongside interviews with figures including Justine Musk, Errol Musk, former Tesla executive Martin Eberhard, journalist Zoë Schiffer and AI researcher Geoffrey Hinton.

Musk has publicly dismissed the film as a “hit piece.” His attorney Alex Spiro has also challenged claims raised by the documentary and threatened legal action, while the filmmakers have defended the production as a fact-based work of journalism.

That dispute has become part of the film's rollout before general audiences have even had the opportunity to see it.

The theatrical version comes before HBO

Musk is produced by Jigsaw Productions alongside Closer Media, Anonymous Content and Double Agent. Gibney produces with Jessie Deeter, Erin Edeiken, Dana O'Keefe, Joey Marra, Zhang Xin, Nick Shumaker and Jessica Grimshaw among the film's production team.

Daniel Pemberton composed the score. David Byrne also co-wrote and performs the original song Let Me Sell You a Dream with Pemberton.

After its theatrical run, the documentary is expected to reach HBO and HBO Max. The HBO version is planned at roughly four hours, slightly longer than the theatrical cut.

Bleecker Street is shortening the festival-to-theater gap

Moving a film by a single week is a small calendar adjustment on paper. The timing gives it more significance: Musk is arriving directly out of Venice and Toronto while reactions to the documentary, its claims and Musk's response are still circulating.

Bleecker Street will now test that attention in theaters on October 9, starting in New York and Los Angeles before the national expansion.